When I was 11, I started playing pump organ for my Sunday School out in the Atco trailer, which was placed beside our little old Baptist church to handle the overflow. From there, I graduated to the electric organ on the left-hand side of the church auditorium, and from there, to the piano on the right. I became one of the church’s regular pianists, and by the time I was 16, knew most of the songs by number.
During Sunday night ”singsperation” time– when people got to call out requests for hymns– I knew that if Mr. Purdie called out number 513, we’d be singing “He the Pearly Gates Will Open” again. It was his favorite. Number 206 meant I’d better get my fingers limber, because the pace of ”Wonderful Grace of Jesus” always resembled a train hurtling full throttle down a steep hill. I loved it when someone asked for number 40 — Great is Thy Faithfulness. That one, I could play without looking.
Over the next 25 years of my involvement on worship teams, I transitioned from playing the piano, to my first electric piano–a Fender Rhodes, to an ever-changing array of synthesizers. The trend moved from hymns to choruses to modern-day worship music. But those old hymns of my childhood still echo in my mind rich with doctrine. Today, I’m meditating on number 57… ”Jesus, I am Resting.” I love the thought of “resting in the joy” of who Jesus is. I hope you do too, and that these words encourage you:
Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transfoming power Thou hast made me whole.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart –
Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its ev’ry need,
Compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory, Sunshine of my father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with Thy grace.
Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art,
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
(Jean Sophia Pigott, 1845-1882)
© Mary A. Kassian, Girls Gone Wise. Visit Mary’s Website at: GirlsGoneWise.com